An elderly expatriate returns to the USA after a life overseas only to find that technology and the social network has changed his reality with several unintended consequences.
The Characters
Photo by Henry Cromett
Walter
Played By:
Rick Sadle
Walter is a man of principle. A working class, east coast up-bringing that went awry, he slipped away to China as a step to starting a new life. Walter’s honesty and diligence were matched by his determination to hold on to what he had, especially as it pertained to his morals. His low profile, off the techno-grid desire for privacy unveils unintended consequences which go against his interests as he returns to the USA for the first time in decades.
Photo by Henry Cromett
BUI
PLAYED BY:
Tanya Thompson
The Bionic User Interface (BUI) is a 7000 Series Japanese robot designed for use in Customer Service Centers that allow human entry. An early version of the Humanesque design, with its operational algorithms based on supervised learning, BUI’s firmware and software upgrades have not kept up with more advanced, unsupervised, deep neural, learning machines. Fortunately, BUI was commissioned under the Citizen’s United Rule, thus became an independent corporation which gained Right to Repair and Right to Upgrade protection.
Photo by Henry Cromett
Eliza
Played By:
Chelsey Rae
Eliza is a networked cyborg. The offspring of two MIT grad students, she was chipped for her first teen birthday. Eliza had been algo-tweaked through her teens to develop her pseudo-naturalistic outlook on life. Her human emotions and ego combined with techno-powered AI brain strength occasionally cause unintended consequence that are increasingly harder to contain. Eliza’s role as a Social Security Foundation Human Relations Specialist gives her access to the National Service members she manipulates in her self-advancing schemes.
Photo by Henry Cromett
Bobby
Played By:
Ben Banks
Bobby is a data wrangler. A high-tech, computer savvy teenager, whose ability to control his emotions when dealing with visual AI got him noticed in the ranks as a member of the National Service program. He places a cocky confidence combined with a sweet-talking gentleman rap upon a thin moral base, where “what’s in it for me?” becomes his default response to life. Bobby is an independent thinker that acts tactical rather than strategic, with goals formed in his own mind and shared with no one.
About
What's next
- Being pressed for admission, Walter’s past surfaces.
- With no digital-self apparent, Walter needs allies for his cause.
- Battle lines are drawn, BUI and Bobby take sides.
- Walter may get what’s due him, but it is not what he expected.
Logline
In a future governed by the social network, a world-weary traveler realizes his identity is in question.
About James Menges
James A. Menges is a writer and producer. A native Californian who grew up in the spawning Silicon Valley before spending thirty-five years in Southeast Asia, working in technology industry management and trying to understand the culture of the region. He now divides his time between the Cities of Angels, Bangkok and Los Angeles. Recently Menges began putting his perspective of today’s politics, technology and their impact on society on the stage and screen.
About Steve Perkins
An interdisciplinary artist based in Portland, Oregon, Steve’s commissions, performances, and presentations have taken him to India, China, Istanbul, Taiwan, and Thailand. He earned a Master of Fine Arts degree in Screenwriting/ Directing from the Film Division at Columbia University. His undergraduate studies include a Bachelor of Arts degree in Creative Arts from San José State University, and an Associate of Arts degree in Film (Honors) from DeAnza College. Steve’s wry look at men and masculinity titled a man ought to know that . . . is in the permanent collection of artists’ books at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City.
Contact Us
Have questions about the production? Contact Steve Perkins to find out more.